VARANASI — Saudi Arabia has harnessed its capabilities to contribute in enhancing the gains and continuity of the cultural sector for local and international public interest, Assistant Minister of Culture Rakan Bin Ibrahim Al-Touq said. Al-Touq made these remarks while delivering the speech of Minister of Culture Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Bin Farhan, where he represented Saudi Arabia on behalf of the latter at the G20 Culture Ministers' Meeting in Varanasi, India. During the meeting, Al-Touq has highlighted the contributions made by the Kingdom to enhance the gains of the cultural sector for the local and international public interest. He said the most prominent of which is its support for the establishment of the (Saudi Fund at UNESCO to support the protection and promotion of culture and heritage) in order to finance cultural projects and strategic programs, from which, several ambitious and important initiatives emerged. Al-Touq confirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment and support for the priorities of the cultural track in the G20, and the importance of the priorities of the Indian presidency that inspire to rediscover what brings the countries together. "The Kingdom has always been keen to enable access to culture and preserve heritage with all its components," he said. We believe in the power of culture to transform for a prosperous future, Al-Touq said, indicating that the Ministry of Culture in the Kingdom has achieved a set of achievements and projects related to the priorities of the presidency. He indicated that Saudi Arabia is proud of its initiative to hold the first meeting of the G20 culture ministers on the sidelines of the Saudi presidency in 2020. The Kingdom also appreciates the commitment of the member states to complete work in activating the cultural track within their successive presidencies. Al-Touq thanked the Indian presidency hosting the G20 Summit 2023, and the Minister of Culture of India G. Kishan Reddy. He also appreciated the keenness of the Indian presidency to support the continuity of the cultural path. On behalf of the Minister of Culture, Al-Touq said that he looks forward to the continuity of the cultural path during the next presidency in Brazil and beyond, to consolidate culture as a source of inspiration and prosperity that enables societies to achieve the goals of sustainable development.
